IEOx Essay Challenge 2026/27
A climate economics essay competition for secondary students worldwide (under 20 on 30 June 2027, so UK sixth formers are fine, as well as any gap-year students who might be interested), run by the International Economics Olympiad Community. The theme marks 30 years since the Kyoto Protocol, so think carbon markets, sustainable finance and environmental policy. Entrants write 1,500 to 2,000 words plus a 250 to 400 word abstract, with APA referencing. They can enter solo or in a team of up to three, and each student gets one essay per year. Essays must be fully anonymised, and any author details mean disqualification. Judging looks at sticking to the theme, creativity, contextual analysis, formatting and readability. The top 40 are announced 25 to 31 December and the top 5 on 31 January, with an online seminar on 16 February. The deadline is 15 December 2026 (23:59 UTC).